Matthew Claims At Least 65 Lives In Haiti; Death Toll Rising, Hurricane Bears Down On Florida

country's biggest disaster in years.

ABOVE VIDEO:Fox News’ Leland Vittert reports from Dayton Beach.

(FOX NEWS) – The death toll from Hurricane Matthew rose to 65 in Haiti, local officials told Reuters on Thursday, but they said they still lacked a clear picture of what they fear is the country’s biggest disaster in years.

The storm killed four other people in the neighboring Dominican Republic, the news agency added, reporting that many in Haiti were killed by falling trees.

As the weather began calming, convoys and helicopters have begun venturing to marooned corners of the country to assess the damage and determine how to help thousands of people who lost homes, livestock and crops.

In Haiti’s southern peninsula towns where Matthew arrived around daybreak Tuesday with 145 mph winds, there was wreckage and misery everywhere.